project s3800

[88s10]

So iv lurked here for gears reading projects like silver fox pumkinator and bad ast, but my project is most like project drive a beater. Very tight budget and end goal is a 300hp 20 mpg daily driver that can hold its own at the track. Motor choice is a 3.8 4l60e from a 97 camaro as i have everyrhing to it in my garage. I need help with getting the details down like wireimg harness. I have searched google for hours and havnt fou.d anything so any help figureing it out will be very apreciated. Progress will start very soon as i am getting my mc license so i can ride my bike while i swap the truck pics will be posted soon as i figure itot

[dusterbd13]

try hitting painless. they make a VATS bypass module for the c4 vettes, as well as various other ECMs. youll have toi have the ECM number handy.

also, if you google vats bypass, theres a bunch of info out there on finding the resistor values, etc.

i used the autozone website for most of my wiring harness work on the drivabeater, but with the advent of cheap FSM's on CD via ebay, id go that route in a skinney minute if i had to do it again.

the easiest way to do this kind of swap is to make it as factory as possible, then work on reducing what you dont need. the ECM will most likely need a reflash no matter what, and im sure PCMs for less can do that cheaply to delete things like the emissions, and to correct speedo, etc.

start with wiring diagrams, and do searches with google via that ecm number.

ls1tech should also be helpful with the ecm side, as well as thridgen. dont expect anyone to spoon feed you the answers here, though, as with most uncharted territory swaps youll have to figure some of it out on the fly.

[88s10]

Yea im deep in uncharted teritory with this, this swap has been done maybe 3 times all by the same guy. Kinda shyed awayfrom the s10 fourms because if its not a 4.3 or a v8 you get flamed. I dont wana be spoon fed just little nudge in the right direction

[88s10]

Ok so my dads friend who is helping me do all this( used to work for joe gibbs raceing) said i could simply use the camaro steering column and key and then my 3.8 will think its in a camaro( chip in key for vats) so everything would be good. Also what type of suspension should i run truck will be used as a daily with occonsinal road raceing and auto x. Dads friend says a 4 link would be good but i was thinkinof somthing like hot rod to hell truck arm kit or a 3 link

[NoMoneyZ]

I looked into this swap also as I had a spare v6 camaro that wasn't going anywhere. What I learned was that its a similar amount of work as putting a SBC in one. You need to build your own mounts for the engine. Wireing should be easy to come by on a v6 forum like full throttle v6, or 3800pro or something like that. For power look into the top swaps for the grand Prix. You can use the whole top end from a s/c 3.8 and do a couple bolt ones, you'll have your 300+ HP and probably 26+MPGs.

[88s10]

Top end from sc wont work have to cut up fire wall. Stock 3.8 scoots my dads camaro around damn good so i figure with cam nd headers in a lighter vechical its guna be plenty fun. Ima try to swap camaro steering column so vats is done and i get cruise control Nd tilt. So long as my foot stays out of it i should have great mpgs. Worried about suspension and traction. I wana do a 8.8 swap but its all in the air

[NoMoneyZ]

Well ya, what I meant was it will go right on the engine no problem. They are pretty nice for a v6 n/a. I imagine you could get maybe 260ish crank hp with a cam and boltons.

[dusterbd13]

with rear end and suspension:
run leaves. i used belltech 3 inch drop leaves, 3 inch blocks, and bolt on coil overs for spring rate adjustment. i will say, i should have mini notched it at that point...

also, the stock s10 rear will hold up top tremendous abuse on street tires. no need to change it for 300 horse on street tires in a truck.

jsut my experience.

camaro column should fit in with a little mucking about with both colums to adapt it to the truck. 92 had a different firewaall part than the 88, and i was able to interchange them....

michael

[88s10]

Nice this is stuff i needed just people to bounce ideas off of that get what im trying to acomplish. None of the guys i work on cars with understand why im going through all this trouble. And most people just ssy drop in a sbc and call it done. For the most part it will be a truck to hold its own on a track. Only part that wont benfit performance is when i do a blow through to put 2 12's in a 4th order box.

[88s10]

But the truck will be abused alot and one wheel peel bothers me but do yall think the stock 7.5 will handle the 3.8 it will be around 300hp and ill probly add some spray pep boys here is bout to start fillingthe bottles truck will see street, strip and road course action. Not to worried about how it runs at the strip as goijg in a line for 10 seconds isnt my cup of tea but my dad is into it so ill probly go run it when ever he goes out

[dusterbd13]

7.5 will hold up fine. stay away from the g80, but the zexels were nice. pleanty of aftermarket limited slip options too. i personally never liked the one locker i tried. just too violent.

the blow through will kill chassis rigidity. plan on cage/additional bracing/boxing at that point. really, the rear cab wall is a structural member in twist on these trucks.

michael

[88s10]

Bed will be stregthened back up when i build my bed cover so bed wont have any side to side flex, if the cab flexes ill fab up a cage, iv been thinking about a cage and 4pt harness anyways just causr the truck will see some race action and id rather be safe then sorry

[88s10]

Ok so a major set back im experienceing is what to do about guages. Evern the cheapest kit summit has is $400. I have sunpro guages for volt oil press and water temp( from pep boys black face black bezel) so all i really need is a speedo but if anyone has a guage set they could sell for cheap please pm me. I would prefer blacl face black bezel but will entertain anything just speedo has to be eltrical sending to make hook up to the 4l60e fast easy nd cheap